Fiber optic enclosure for retrofitting pedestals in the field

ABSTRACT

A telecommunications device includes a module that mounts within an interior of a housing. The housing has a door that latches closed. The module includes a module frame having a bulkhead that divides the interior of the housing into first and second regions. Fiber optic adapters are mounted to the bulkhead. First ports of the adapters are accessible at the first region of the housing interior and second ports are accessible at the second region of the housing interior. The module includes a removable cover for restricting access to the first region. The removable cover including a latch catch that interlocks with the door latch to secure the door in the closed position. The module includes a tray mounted to the module frame within the first region of the housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 14/850,575,filed Sep. 10, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,442,266, which applicationclaims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 62/049,007, filedSep. 11, 2014, and titled “Fiber Optic Enclosure for RetrofittingPedestals in the Field,” which applications are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to equipment for use in fiberoptic networks. More particularly, the present disclosure relates toenclosures suitable for use in fiber optic networks.

BACKGROUND

Fiber optic communication networks are continuously expanding as serviceproviders strive to deliver higher bandwidth communication capabilitiesto customer. A typical fiber optic communication system includes anetwork of fiber optic cables suitable for transmitting larger volumesof data and voice signals over relatively long distances. The fiberoptic communication systems frequently include components such asenclosures that may house telecommunications equipment such as passivepower splitters, wave length division multiplexers, splice trays, fiberoptic adapters for interconnecting fiber optic connectors, patch panels,interconnect panels or other components. There is a need for systems,methods and devices for cost effectively expanding fiber optic networks.

Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to telecommunicationsequipment that can be used to efficiently and cost effectively retrofitpre-existing pedestals in the field such that the pedestals can be usedto support the expansion of fiber optic networks. In certain examples,the pedestals can include traditional cable television pedestals such asthe TV 80 Series pedestals sold by Emerson Network Power Energy Systemsof Warrenville, Ill.

Other aspects of the present disclosure relate to a fiber opticenclosure that is compartmentalized to limit access to certain portionsof the closure and that includes a fail-safe latching arrangement thatensures limited access compartments are properly secured during fieldservice installation and over the lifetime of maintenance of theenclosure. Other aspects relates to features that ensure components arenot inadvertently lost or misplaced during field service installationand over the lifetime of maintenance of the enclosure.

Further aspects of the present disclosure relate to field-installableenclosures having enhanced connector and adapter access.

Still other aspects of the present disclosure relate tofield-installable enclosures having modular components that can be fullyassembled prior to installation in the enclosure to enhance efficiencyand mitigate risks associated with errors in assembly. Additionally, theuse of modular components can also facilitate making upgrades andmodifications in a timely manner to meet customer demands.

Still other aspects of the present disclosure relate to an enclosurehaving readily accessible splice trays that can be stacked one-on-top ofthe other to provide upgrades or to increase capacity over time.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a telecommunicationsdevice including a housing having a door for accessing an interior ofthe housing. The door is movable between an open position and a closedposition. The door includes a door latch for securing the door in theclosed position. The telecommunications device also includes a modulethat mounts within the interior of the housing. The module includes amodule frame having a bulkhead that divides the interior of the housinginto first and second regions. The module includes a plurality of fiberoptic adapters mounted to the bulkhead. The fiber optic adapters includefirst ports accessible at the first region of the housing interior andsecond ports accessible at the second region of the housing interior.The module includes a removable cover mountable to the module frame forrestricting access to the first region. The removable cover includes alatch catch that interlocks with the door latch to secure the door inthe closed position. The module also includes a tray mounted to themodule frame within the first region of the housing.

A variety of additional aspects will be set forth in the descriptionthat follows. The aspects relate to individual features and tocombinations of features. It is to be understood that both the forgoinggeneral description and the following detailed description are exemplaryand explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventiveconcepts upon which the examples disclosed herein are based.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a telecommunications device inaccordance with the principles of the present disclosure installedwithin an outdoor pedestal, a top cover of the pedestal has been removedso that the telecommunications device is visible;

FIG. 2 illustrates the telecommunications device of FIG. 1 in isolationfrom the pedestal;

FIG. 3 shows the telecommunications device of FIG. 2 with a front dooropen;

FIG. 4 shows the telecommunications device of FIG. 3 with the front dooropen and an internal module cover removed;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the telecommunications device of FIGS.2-4;

FIG. 6 is another view of the telecommunications device of FIG. 2 withthe front door open and the internal module cover removed;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a module of the telecommunicationsdevice of FIG. 6 with the module cover removed;

FIG. 8 shows the module of FIG. 7 with a fiber management tray explodedaway from a module frame of the module;

FIG. 9 illustrates the module frame of the module of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 illustrates the module of FIG. 7 with multiple fiber managementtrays stacked one-on-top of the other;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the module of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a top, perspective view of the fiber management tray depictedat FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 13 is a bottom, perspective view of the fiber management tray ofFIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing an example fiber distributionarchitecture that can be incorporated into the telecommunications deviceof FIGS. 1-13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to telecommunications devicessuch as enclosures that can readily be incorporated into pre-existingcabinets (e.g., outdoor pedestals such as TV 80 Series pedestals) thathave been previously installed in the field. Thus, aspects of thepresent disclosure relate to telecommunications devices suitable for usein expanding fiber optic networks in an efficient manner by utilizingexisting equipment that has been previously installed in the field.

Referring to FIG. 1, a telecommunications device 20 is shown inaccordance with the principles of the present disclosure. Thetelecommunications device 20 is shown mounted within an outdoor cabinet22. In certain examples, the outdoor cabinet 22 can be a pedestal suchas a TV 80 Series cable television pedestal sold by Emerson NetworkPower Energy Systems of Warrenville, Ill. As depicted, the outdoorcabinet 22 is shown as a pedestal having a base 24. The base 24 includesa back plate 26 and a lower front cover 28. An upper front cover or cap(not shown) mounts over the base 24 to enclose the pedestal. Thepedestal is shown equipped with an internal frame 30 including twoparallel rails 32. The telecommunications device 20 includes at leastone bracket 34 that can be used to attach the telecommunications device20 to the rails 32 of the internal frame 30 via fasteners 36.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the telecommunications device 20 includes ahousing 38 having a door 40 for accessing an interior 42 of the housing38. The door 40 is movable between an open position (see FIG. 3) and aclosed position (see FIG. 2). The door 40 includes a door latch 44 forsecuring the door 40 in the closed position. The door latch 44 can beactuated with a key or a tool such as a wrench or socket. In otherexamples, the door latch 44 can be manually actuated.

Referring to FIGS. 3-8, the telecommunications device 20 also includes amodule 46 that mounts within the interior 42 of the housing 38. Themodule 46 includes a module frame 48 (see FIG. 7) having a bulkhead 50that divides the interior 42 of the housing 38 into first and secondregions 52, 54 (see FIGS. 4 and 6). The module 46 includes a pluralityof fiber optic adapters 56 mounted to the bulkhead 50. In one example,the fiber optic adapters 56 are snapped within corresponding openings 58defined by the bulkhead 50 (see FIG. 8). The fiber optic adapters 56include first ports 60 accessible at the first region 52 of the housinginterior 42 and second ports 62 accessible at the second region 54 ofthe housing interior 42 (see FIG. 6). When not in use, the ports 60, 62can be closed and protected by removable dust caps 64.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the module 46 also includes a removablecover 66 that mounts to the module frame 48 for restricting access tothe first region 52 of the housing interior 42. The removable cover 66includes a latch catch 68 that interlocks with the door latch 44 tosecure the door 40 in the closed position. In this way, it is necessaryfor the removable cover 66 to be installed on the module frame 48 withinthe housing interior 42 for the door latch 44 to be capable of beinglatched. This feature prevents a field technician from forgetting toinstall the removable cover 66 before closing and latching the door 40.

By “restricted access”, it is meant that it is more difficult and/ortime consuming to access the first region 52 than the second region 54.In certain examples, a key or special tool is required to remove theremovable cover 66 from the module frame 48. In other examples, astandard tool, such as a wrench or socket, can be used to remove theremovable cover 66. In still other examples, the removable cover 66 canbe manually removed without the use of a tool or key.

Referring to FIGS. 4-7, the module 46 can also include a tray 70, suchas a fiber management tray, that mounts to the module frame 48 and ispositioned within the first region 52 of the housing 38. In certainexamples, the tray 70 can include structure for holding opticalcomponents such as splices, passive optical power splitters, wavelengthdivision multiplexers or other components. The structures 72 can bemounted at a central region on a top side of the tray 70. The top sideof the tray can also include elongated fiber management pathways definedby channels that can be arranged in elongated oval configurations,racetrack configurations or other configurations for routing opticalfibers in continuous loops. Tabs 74 can be used to contain opticalfibers within the channels 73. One or more openings 75 can be definedthrough the tray for routing optical fibers and optical cables betweenthe top and bottom sides of the tray. The tray 70 further includescorner posts 80 for facilitating stacking multiple trays one-on-top ofthe other. When stacked, the upper ends of the posts can nest withincorresponding receptacles defined by the undersides of the trays. Thebottom side of the tray can further include an elongated continuouspathway defined by a wall 84. The wall defines opposite elongated sidesand curved ends. In use, fiber optic cables can be wrapped around thebottom structure to provide strain relief. In certain examples, tiewraps or other structures can be used to secure fiber optic cables tothe tray. The stacked trays 70 can have identical configurations but canbe rotated 180 degrees relative to one another so that the posts of thebottom tray align with the receptacles of the top tray. Fasteners can beinserted through openings defined in the receptacles and threaded intothe corresponding posts to secure the stacked trays together.

Referring to FIG. 11, the bulkhead 50 can support multiple horizontalrows of the fiber optic adapters 56. As depicted at FIG. 11, thebulkhead supports upper and lower horizontal rows of fiber opticadapters 56. In certain examples, the lower row of fiber optic adapters56 corresponds to the lower tray 70 and the upper row of fiber opticadapters 56 corresponds to the upper tray 70U. It will be appreciatedthat during initial installation of the telecommunications device 20,the module 46 may include only one tray 70 and only one row of the fiberadapters 56. Later, the upper tray 70U as well as the upper row of fiberoptic adapters 56 can be added to increase the capacity of thetelecommunications device 20. In still other examples, both rows of thefiber optic adapters 56 can be provided during initial installation, andthe upper tray 70U can be added at a later date to provide increasedcapacity and/or service upgrades.

Referring to FIG. 5, the housing 38 of the telecommunications device 20includes a main housing body 90 having an open front 92, a rear housingbase 94, opposite first and second sidewalls 96, 98 that projectforwardly from the rear housing base 94, and opposite first and secondhousing end walls 100, 102 projecting forwardly from the rear housingbase 94 that extend between the opposite first and second housingsidewalls 96, 98. The door 40 is pivotally attached to the main housingbody 90 adjacent the open front 92 by at least one hinge 104. In theexample shown, the hinge 104 extends along a length of the main housingbody and is positioned at a forward edge of the second housing sidewall98.

In certain examples, the first housing end wall 100 corresponds to thefirst region 52 of the housing interior 42 and the second housing endwall 102 corresponds to the second region 54 of the housing interior 42.The bulkhead 50 is located at an intermediate location along the lengthsof the first and second housing sidewalls 96, 98. Thus, first portionsof the first and second housing sidewalls 96, 98 correspond to the firstregion 52 of the housing interior 42 and second portions of the firstand second housing sidewalls 96, 98 correspond to the second region 54of the housing interior 42.

In certain examples, the second region 54 is configured to receive fiberoptic cables from outside the housing 38. For example, the secondhousing end wall 102 defines a plurality of sealed cable access openings106. The cable access openings 106 have open ends 108 at the open front92 of the main housing body 90 for allowing fiber optic cables to beinserted within the cable access openings 106 when the door 40 is in theopen position. The door 40 blocks the open ends 108 of the cable accessopenings 106 when the door 40 is in the closed position. The cableaccess openings 106 are sealed by one or more sealing elements. Forexample, a sealing gasket 110 is shown mounted along the second housingend wall 102. The gasket 110 can include slits corresponding to each ofthe cable access openings 106 for receiving fiber optic cables. Incertain examples, the gasket 110 can be captured between the secondhousing end wall 102 and a gasket retention wall 112 that extendsbetween the first and second housing sidewalls 96, 98 and that isparallel to the second housing end wall 102.

Referring to FIG. 8, the module frame 48 includes a module rear base 120having first and second opposite ends 122, 124. The module frame 48 alsoincludes a module end wall 125 that projects forwardly from the modulerear base 120 at the first module end 122. The bulkhead 50 projectsforwardly from the module rear base 120 at the second module end 124. Afront flange 126 projects from a forward end of the module end wall 125.A cover catch 128 is provided on the front flange 126. A latch catch 69of the removable cover 66 is configured to engage with the cover catch128 to secure the removable cover 66 over a front side of the moduleframe 48. The removable cover 66 also includes a plurality of tabs 130that are received within slots 132 (FIG. 7) defined by the bulkhead 50of the module frame 48.

The bulkhead 50 includes first and second side tabs 134, 136 that arerespectively fastened to the first and second housing sidewalls 96, 98at intermediate locations between the first and second housing end walls100, 102. Example fasteners can include rivets, screws, bolts or otherstructures. The module end wall can also be fastened to the firsthousing end wall 100 to secure the module frame 48 to the housing 38.

In certain examples, the housing can be environmentally sealed.

In certain examples, the tray 70 includes a front side for holdingoptical components and for storing optical fiber (see FIG. 12). The traycan also include a rear side defining a cable pathway about which acable can be routed to provide strain relief (see FIG. 13). The frontside of the tray can define one or more routing paths that define fiberstorage loops.

In certain examples, the module frame 48 can include posts 138 thatproject forwardly from the module rear base 120. In certain examples,the tray 70 can include receptacles 140 that receive the posts 138 tomount the tray 70 at a predetermined location on the module frame 48.The fasteners 142 that engage the posts can be used to fix the tray 72to the posts 138. In certain examples, the bulkhead includes one or morenotches 139 for allowing cables to be passed through the bulkheadbetween the first region 52 and the second region 54 of the housinginterior 42.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example fiber optic architecture for thetelecommunications device 20. Referring to FIG. 14, a wavelengthdivision multiplexer 144 is positioned within the first region 52 of thehousing interior 42. In certain examples, the wavelength divisionmultiplexer 144 can be mounted to the module rear base 120, to the firstor second housing sidewall 96, 98, or to the tray 70. A first output 146of the wavelength division multiplexer 144 is coupled to an input sideof a passive optical power splitter 148 provided at a front side of thetray 70. Connectorized outputs 150 of the passive optical power splitter148 can be plugged into the first ports 60 of the fiber optic adapters56. Subscriber cables 152 can be routed into the second region 54 of thehousing interior 42 through the cable access openings 106. Thesubscriber cables 152 can have connectorized ends 154 that plug into thesecond ports 62 of the fiber optic adapters 56 to optically couple thesubscriber cables 152 to the connectorized outputs 150 of the passiveoptical power splitter 148.

A second output 156 of the wavelength division multiplexer 144 can berouted out of the first region 52 of the housing interior 42 through oneof the slots 139 in the bulkhead 50. The second output 156 can then berouted through the second region 54 of the housing interior 42 androuted out of the housing 38 through one of the cable access openings106. In certain examples, the second output 156 can be opticallyconnected to additional fiber in the loop. In certain examples, thesecond output 156 can be looped about the cable pathway provided on therear side of the tray 70 prior to be routed out of the first region 52of the housing interior 42. In this way, the tray functions to providestrain relief to the second output 156.

As depicted at FIG. 14, a connectorized pigtail 158 provides an inputline to the wavelength division multiplexer 144. The connectorizedpigtail 158 is plugged into the first port 60 of one of the fiber opticadapters 56. A connectorized feed fiber 160 that may be opticallyconnected to a central office or other location is plugged into thesecond port 62 of the fiber optic adapter 56 to which the connectorizedpigtail 58 is coupled. In this way, the connectorized feed fiber 160 isoptically coupled to the input side of the wavelength divisionmultiplexer 144.

The above specification, examples and data provide a completedescription of the manufacture and use of the structure of theinvention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, the inventionresides in the claims hereinafter appended.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of installing an optical module into atelecommunications device, the method comprising: accessing an interiorof a housing through an access opening; inserting a module through theaccess opening and into the interior of the housing, the moduleincluding a module frame having a bulkhead that divides the interior ofthe housing into first and second regions, the module including aplurality of fiber optic adapters mounted to the bulkhead, the fiberoptic adapters including first ports accessible at the first region ofthe housing interior and second ports accessible at the second region ofthe housing interior, the module including a removable cover mountableto the module frame for restricting access to the first region, themodule including a tray mounted to the module frame within the firstregion of the housing; mounting a wavelength division multiplexer in thefirst region of the housing interior; coupling a first output of thewavelength division multiplexer to an input side of a passive opticalpower splitter provided at a front side of the tray; and pluggingconnectorized outputs of the passive optical power splitter into thefirst ports of the fiber optic adapters.
 2. The method of claim 1,further comprising attaching the housing to a frame using at least onebracket.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising passing a cablethrough a notch defined by the bulkhead.
 4. The method of claim 1,further comprising routing a second output of the wavelength divisionmultiplexer out of the housing.
 5. The method of claim 4, whereinrouting the second output out of the housing comprises routing thesecond output about a cable pathway provided at a rear side of the trayto provide strain relief.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein routing thesecond output about the cable pathway comprises routing the secondoutput from the rear side of the tray, through a notch defined by thebulkhead to the second region of the housing interior, and out of thehousing through a sealed cable access opening defined at the secondregion of the housing interior.
 7. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising routing a cable about a cable pathway to provide strainrelief, the cable pathway being defined by a rear side of the tray,wherein the tray includes a front side for holding optical components,and wherein the front side of the tray defines one or more fiber routingpaths that define fiber storage loops.
 8. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising restricting access to the first region of the interior bymounting the removable cover to the module frame.
 9. The method of claim8, further comprising closing a door of the housing to cover the accessopening.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the housing defines aplurality of sealed cable access openings at the second region of thehousing interior for allowing cables to be routed in or out of thehousing, wherein the door blocks open ends of the cable access openingswhen the door is in the closed position.
 11. The method of claim 9,further comprising interlocking the door to the removable cover.
 12. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the housing is environmentally sealed. 13.The method of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a main housing bodyhaving an open front, a rear housing base, opposite first and secondhousing side walls projecting forwardly from the rear housing base, andopposite first and second housing end walls projecting forwardly fromthe rear housing base that extend between the opposite first and secondhousing side walls.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the bulkheadincludes first and second side tabs that attach respectively to thefirst and second housing side walls.
 15. The method of claim 13, whereinthe first end wall corresponds to the first region of the interior ofthe housing and the second end wall corresponds to the second region ofthe interior of the housing, and wherein the second end wall defines aplurality of sealed cable access openings having open ends at the frontof the main housing body for allowing cables to be inserted within thecable access openings when a front door is in the open position, andwherein the front door blocks the open ends of the cable access openingswhen the front door is in the closed position.
 16. The method of claim15, wherein the module frame includes posts that project forwardly fromthe module rear base, wherein the tray includes receptacles that receivethe posts, and wherein fasteners engaging the posts are used to securethe tray to the posts.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the moduleframe includes a module rear base having first and second oppositemodule ends, wherein a module end wall projects forwardly from themodule rear base at the first module end, wherein the bulkhead projectsforwardly from the rear base at the second module end, wherein a frontflange projects from a forward end of the module end wall, wherein acover catch is provided on the front flange, wherein the removable coverincludes a cover latch that engages with the cover catch, and whereinthe removable cover includes tabs that are received within slots definedby the bulkhead.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the bulkheadincludes first and second side tabs that are respectively fastened tothe first and second housing side walls at intermediate locationsbetween the first and second housing end walls, and wherein the moduleend wall is fastened to the first housing end wall.
 19. An opticalmodule comprising: a module frame having a bulkhead that at leastpartially bounds an interior volume, the module including a plurality offiber optic adapters mounted to the bulkhead, the fiber optic adaptersincluding first ports accessible from within the interior volume at afirst side of the bulkhead and second ports accessible at an oppositesecond side of the bulkhead; a wavelength division multiplexer disposedin the interior volume of the module frame, the wavelength divisionmultiplexer having a first output; a passive optical power splitterdisposed in the interior volume of the module frame, the passive opticalpower splitter having an input receiving the first output of the wavedivision multiplexer, the passive optical power splitter havingconnectorized outputs plugged into the first ports of the fiber opticadapters; and a removable cover mountable to the module frame forrestricting access to the interior volume, the first ports, thewavelength division multiplexer, and the passive optical power splitter.20. The optical module of claim 19, further comprising a tray mountedwithin the interior volume of the module frame, the passive opticalpower splitter being provided at a front side of the tray.